Friday, December 5, 2008

"Desolation"

I did this study to practice how to paint trees. It is really difficult to paint darks on the top of lighter color background. I tried doing darks first then use lighter colors to cut off the branches, but I can't get fine twigs that way. I have to finish this painting in two sessions. I have to wait the lighter background dry enough so I can paint darks on top. Do you have a good way to do this kind of thing in one session? Please please let me know.

I'm not the painter you are but, try wipeing your brush after each stroke, use a very lite touch to float the new paint on top of the wet. I'll vary tools too using both palette knife and sable rounds and #1 & #2 filbert hog hair filbert.

Love this new direction you are taking. This is a problem I have been grappling with for years. I think Steve's advice is good. I have also been experimenting with scraping paint off the areas that I want to replace with dark, using one of those hard rubber tools they sell in craft shops.

I think the 2 things I admire most about this and all your paintings is your economy and color. Nothing is extraneous or slapped on. K.MacP once said that when the paint's too thick, put more paint on!

James Gurney has a trick of making "sky panels" ahead of time by toning panels in light blue, so when it comes time for outdoor painting on clear days he has a dry sky surface to paint over. Maybe make a few "gray day" panels for winter?

I adore these two outdoor studies, also... Especially on this one, it conveys a feeling of stillness with what looks like speedy brushwork. I know you're in Texas but I get a very welcome feeling of New England cold from this one. I miss home in wintertime.

One of my art teachers taught me to take a Q-tip (twist it in your fingers to get a fine tip) and remove the paint in the areas that you want the dark colors. It might take a few Q-tips. I use Q-tips every time I paint now.

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My name is pronounced as Chong Wong and I came from China and live in Texas now. I have been painting for many years. Starting from January 2007, I have been generating one painting every weekday, and weekend sometimes. Please enjoy my blog. If you like my work, I would like to thank you, because we have communicated visually and shared a common concept about the world. If you do not like my work, I would also like to thank you, because you have just found room of improvement for me. So please do not hesitate to let me know. I really hope my painting can bring you more happiness today, no matter how small it is.